SkyBot - A Novel Autonomous Window Cleaning Drone
Amal Al Hulaibi, Hawraa Wahid, Salem Al Saif, Jumanah Sadeq, Seyed Esmaeili, Marwa Kandil · 2023
Modern skyscrapers with expansive glass facades demand an innovative solution for efficient and safe window cleaning. Conventional methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly, particularly on skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. In this paper, SkyBot an autonomous window cleaning drone is introduced. Equipped with eight propellers driven by powerful motors and a lightweight carbon fiber structure, SkyBot ensures stability and strength at great heights. SkyBot has a carrying capacity of up to 11 kg of cleaning supplies, it is designed for portability, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. SkyBot’s cleaning mechanism incorporates a high-pressure washer and a powerful blower for effective cleaning. Real-time monitoring is made possible through live streaming video capabilities. Experimental results affirm that SkyBot has the potential to effectively shorten the cleaning cycle to around 40 days and reduce the operational cost by 47% when compared to conventional methods used to clean BurjKhalifa. SkyBot represents a significant advancement in highrise building maintenance, offering an efficient and safe window cleaning solution for modern skyscrapers.